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Famous French Food

Hopefully you have heard of some of these famous French food specialties already. After all they would not deserve to be called famous if they were known only to people in the Hexagon. (That is what French people sometimes call their country - see how it is sort of six sided?)

These dishes and recipes are presented to you in the order which you might eat them during a four course meal. So consider this a huge banquet of some of France's most popular foods and be sure to leave room for some famous French desserts.

Along the way you will find photos and links to some of the recipes on Easy French Food. They have all been tested by the chef (that would be me), and are purposefully simple so that you can get to the good part - enjoying your food!

L'apéritif - Famous Appetizers

Tapenade and olives

This is served before you sit down for the meal. Along with your flute de champagne or kir (a popular before dinner drink made form crème de cassis and white wine), have a nibble on:

Le Fromage - Famous Cheese

Roquefort Cheese

Oh, you thought you were ready for dessert? No, first you must have some cheese. And with something like 500 different kinds of French cheese, you have quite a choice. Here are just a few of the more popular.

Brie - This famous French food is perhaps even more popular outside of France. It is named after the area in which it is produced, not far outside of Paris.

Camembert - Along with the baguette, one of the most popular foods in France.

Roquefort - A strong tasting blue cheese? Not only is this one of France's most famous cheeses, it is also one of the oldest.

Les Desserts - Famous Desserts

Chocolate éclair

Everyone's favorite part, right?

Clafoutis - These are simple baked custards that include different fruits. The most popular version is made with cherries.

Créme brûlée - A cream dessert that is topped with hard caramelized sugar.

Eclairsand Profiteroles - These are treats made from choux pastry, a special sort of dough made with lots of eggs, flour, water and butter. An éclair is log shaped, filled with pastry cream and usually topped with chocolate. A profiterole is round and typically filled with ice cream.

Mille feuilles - Several layers of puff pastry, typically filled with pastry cream. You might know these as Napoléons.

Tarte Normande - France is not short on famous apple tarts. This one typically includes a little shot of Calvados, an apple brandy made in Normandy.

Tarte Tatin - An upside down apple tart that was supposedly first made by the legendary Tatin sisters.

More Famous French Food

Here are a few things that are definitely on the Famous French Food List but do not fit in with our four course dinner.

Crepes - Thin pancakes that are filled with both sweet and savory fillings. A special crepe, called a galette, is made from buckwheat flour.

Croissants - Made from buttery layered pastry, these are typically eaten for breakfast. The French tend to save them for a treat on Sunday morning.

Madeleines - These are sweet tea cakes that are shaped like a scallop shell, made famous by the author Proust.

Please do not think this is an exhaustive list of famous French food. There are so many wonderful dishes from all around France that it would be impossible to limit ourselves. If you love French food and want to learn more, that is what this website is all about. So, please have a good look around.